Revealed: Volkswagen Beetle Convertible

Third-generation Volkswagen Beetle Convertible

VW says the third-generation Beetle Convertible harks back to the first ever rag-top, stating that it features a more upright windscreen and new, flatter roofline and which add to its retro cred – though the company has not yet released any images of the car with its roof in place.

The fabric roof appears to fold almost-flat when it’s down, and VW says it takes just 10 seconds to open or close – one second more than the ultra-quick lid of VW Golf Cabriolet. The Beetle Convertible is also fitted with a hidden rollover safety system, which, in the event of a rollover, will deploy two roll bars from behind the two rear seats.

Engines for the US-spec Beetle Cabriolet include a 2.0-litre four-cylinder turbo diesel producing 103kW/320Nm, a 2.0-litre turbocharged four-cylinder petrol engine with 155kW/280Nm as seen in the Golf GTI, or a 2.5-litre five-cylinder petrol engine with 125kW/240Nm.

“For the time being we are not looking into [offering the car here],” VW Australia CEO Anke Koeckler told Drive in August. “So we have three options [the Golf Cabriolet, Eos convertible and Beetle Convertible] but we will not bring three options into the market.”

Koeckler told Drive she has no plans to drop the Golf Cabriolet or Eos to make space for a Beetle Convertible, which would almost certainly sell in less volume than either of those cars.

“So far we have a lot of good customer database with the Eos and Golf Cabriolet, and for the time being I’m not looking at changing it,” she said.

The standard hard-top Beetle will arrive locally in the first few months of 2013. Stay tuned for our review then.

14 comments so far

Damn, looks like I'll have to stick to my Mini convertible then...

Commenter

hairdresser

Location

Date and time

October 04, 2012, 12:23PM

Isn't my cup of tea but I can certainly see the appeal of the beetle, it's a very iconic car so I don't understand the logic of not releasing it in Australia due to 2 VW convertibles on offer already. And if there's a country were convertible driving is a possibility so many months a year it's gotta be Australia.

Commenter

Stefaan

Location

Melbourne

Date and time

October 04, 2012, 7:08PM

What's the point of reporting on it if it's not coming to Oz?

Commenter

Fred Bloggs

Location

Castlemaine

Date and time

October 04, 2012, 7:09PM

To see what you are missing out on?

Commenter

Mr Irony

Location

Out there

Date and time

October 05, 2012, 4:10PM

So, we are to remain completely oblivious to everything that is not released in Australia? I'm guessing you've never heard of the Veyron or any other super exotic hypercar then?

Commenter

Machiehead89

Location

Date and time

October 06, 2012, 1:29AM

It's a VW and this is Drive

Enough said...

Commenter

The truth

Location

Date and time

October 06, 2012, 2:36AM

Machiehead89, I[m quite familiar with the exotic cars that never make it to our shores, but the VW is an iconic car in Australia, having been on our streets for nearly sixty years, but to compare a Veyron, or 'any other super exotic hypercar' with it is sheer nonsense. Or is your wallet deep enough not to notice the difference?

Commenter

Fred Bloggs

Location

Castlemaine

Date and time

October 06, 2012, 10:02AM

shame, had a sixties red convertible beetle as first car, best memories, would have bought the new one for that reason.

Commenter

red

Location

act

Date and time

October 04, 2012, 7:50PM

The side on shot makes it look a bit like the PT Cruiser

Commenter

Mac

Location

Balmain

Date and time

October 04, 2012, 8:00PM

VW have done a great job on the new model. The proportions are fantastic. What a beautiful car.